Monte Carlo Analytic Hierarchy Process (MAHP) approach to selection of optimum mining method

One of the most critical and complicated steps in mine design is a selection of suitable mining method based upon geological,geotechnical,geographical,safety and economical parameters.The aim of this study is developing a Monte Carlo simulation to selection the optimum mining method by using effective and major criteria and at the same time,taking subjective judgments of decision makers into consideration.Proposed approach is based on the combination of Monte Carlo simulation with conventional Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP).Monte Carlo simulation is used to determine the confdence level of each alternative’s score,is calculated by AHP,with the respect to the variance of decision makers’opinion.The proposed method is applied for Jajarm Bauxite Mine in Iran and eventually the most appropriate mining methods for this mine are ranked.

Strata movement controlling effect of waste and fly ash backfillings in fully mechanized coal mining with backfilling face

A fully mechanized coal mining with backfilling (FMCMB) provides advantages of safety and efficiency for coal mining under buildings, railways, and water bodies. According to the field geological conditions, we analyzed the controlling effect of strata movement by the waste and fly ash backfilling in FMCMB face. Based on the key strata theory, we established the equivalent mining thickness model, and analyzed the action of the bulk factor of backfilling body to the equivalent mining thickness. In addition, we numerically simulated the controlling function of the strata movement by backfilling bodies with differ- ent strength. And the numerical simulation result show that the deformation of stratum and the subsi- dence of surface can be controlled by FMCMB. The result provides references to the effective execution of fully mechanized coal mining with solid waste backfilling in goaf.

Construction and stability of an extra-large section chamber in solid backfill mining

In solid backfill mining without gangue removal, the gangue is separated directly underground and backfilled into goaf. This necessitates the underground construction of an extra-large section chamber for separation equipments. For the construction of an extra-large section chamber in the Tangshan mine, we proposed an active support through a combination of bolting, anchor cables, lining, and a reinforced chamber floor by inverted arch pouring. ABAQUS software was used to analyze the surrounding rock deformation and the plastic zone development of the chamber under different excavation schemes.The best excavation scheme was determined, and the effectiveness of the combined supports was verified. In practice, the engineering installation showed good overall control of the movement of the surrounding rock, with roof-to-floor and side-to-side convergences of 154.6 and 77.5 mm, respectively,which meets the requirements for underground coal gangue separation.

Effect of protective coal seam mining and gas extraction on gas transport in a coal seam

A gas–solid coupling model involving coal seam deformation,gas diffusion and seepage,gas adsorption and desorption was built to study the gas transport rule under the effect of protective coal seam mining.The research results indicate:(1) The depressurization effect changes the stress state of an overlying coal seam and causes its permeability to increase,thus gas in the protected coal seam will be desorbed and transported under the effect of a gas pressure gradient,which will cause a decrease in gas pressure.(2) Gas pressure can be further decreased by setting out gas extraction boreholes in the overlying coal seam,which can effectively reduce the coal and gas outburst risk.The research is of important engineering significance for studying the gas transport rule in protected coal seam and providing important reference for controlling coal and gas outbursts in deep mining in China.

Technology of back stoping from level floors in gateway and pillar mining areas of extra-thick seams

According to the special requirements of secondary mining of resources in gateway-and-pillar goal in extra-thick seams of Shanxi, this paper presents a technical proposal of back stoping from level floors. Numerical simulation and theoretical analysis are ccsed to investigate the compaction characteristics of cavities under stress as well as an appropriate mining height of the primary-mining layer based on dif- ferent mining widths and pillar widths. For Yangjian coal mine, the mining thickness of the first seam during back stoping from level floor is determined to be 3 m, which meets the relevant requirements. Gateway-and-pillar goaf of a single layer has a range of influence of 9 m vertically. If gateway-and-pillar goaf occurs both in 9-1 and 9-5 layers, the range is extended to within 11.2 m. When the mining width of a gateway is less than 2 m or larger than 5 m, the gateway-and-pillar goal in the upper layer of the primary-mining seam can be filled in and compacted after stoping. When the working face is 2 m away from the gateway and pillar before entering into it and after passing through it, the coal body under the gateway and pillar is subjected to relatively high stress. During mining of the upper layer, moreover, the working face should interlock the goaf in primary-mining layer for 20 m.

Numerical simulation study on the relationship between mining heights and shield resistance in longwall panel

A numerical model based on a Continuum-based Distinct Element Method(CDEM) was used to carry out a dynamic simulation of the interaction between shield and rock strata movement in longwall mining. In Northern China, the Ordos coal field geological conditions and operational characteristics were used as a case example. The CDEM was constructed on Ordos coal field shield's operation characteristics and geological conditions. Numerical modelling was carried out to investigate the effects of different mining heights on the caving process, movement characteristics, equilibrium and stability conditions of overburden as the interaction between shield and surrounding rocks. With the numerical model, the internal factors for changes in shield resistance under different mining heights was found. The quantitative relationship between mining heights and shield resistance was also obtained by the numerical simulation.

Influence of depth-thickness ratio of mining on the stability of a bedding slope with its sliding surface in concave deformation

In order to study the influence of depth-thickness ratio on bedding slope stability, whose sliding surface is flexural concave in shape under mining conditions, this paper aims to study the characteristics ofdeformarion and damage of bedding sliding with depth-thickness ratios of 200：1,150：1,120：1,100：1 and 50：1 by adopting numerical simulation analysis software combined with laboratory-made ＂under the influence of mining variable sliding surface slope similar simulation test bed＂, and to propose identification methods for slope stability under the infuence of mining. The results show that mining activities under the slope reduce slope stability. With a decrease in the mining depth ratio, the influence of mining on the slope increases gradually, and the damage to the slope gradually expands, the stability of the slope grad- ually reduces, fracture occurs on the slope toe and the central fissure gradually develops to the surface, and reaches slide threshold when the depth-thickness ratio is 50：1.

Numerical analysis of the destruction of water-resisting strata in a coal seam floor in mining above aquifers

With the increase in mining depth many mining areas in China have entered a period necessitating mining above aquifers. Production safety in coal mines in northern China is under serious threat from Ordovician karst water on coal seam floors, in order to analyze the destruction of water-resisting strata in floors of coal seams being mined and to achieve safe mining above deep aquifers, we established a numerical model of water-resisting strata, considering the structural characteristics and mechanical properties of a floor layered with hard and soft rock. We simulated the distribution characteristics of deformation, failure and seepage using the analytical module of fluid-structure interaction of FLAt：. We also obtained the corresponding stress distribution, deformation and flow vectors. Our results indi- cate that： （1） the advance of the working face causes water-resisting strata in goaf floors to form a deep double-clamped beam, subject to homogeneous loading at the bottom; （2） the two sides of the rock beam are subject 1~0 shear failure; （3） both sides of the rock seam at the bottom of the water-resisting strata are subject to tension and the greater the working face advance, the more serious the failure; C4） the original balance of the stress and seepage fields are broken and redistributed due to mining activities, especially the interaction of the abutment pressure in both sides of the goal; the lateral pressure on the goal floor and the water pressure on the floor of the aquifer promote floor heave and shear failure on both sides of the floor, forming a water-inrush passage. Our study results can provide references for the mechanism of water-inrush on mine floors.

Gateside packwall design in solid backfill mining-A case study

Based upon characteristic movement features of the overlying strata in solid backfill mining and in-situ observations,an associated model representing a roadway support system has been developed.Based on the Winkler foundation and beam model,the current study presents a static analysis of the model,thus permitting acquisition of a theoretical formula pertaining to roof convergence.Through use of working face 6304-1(Jisan Colliery) as the research setting,the association between roof convergence magnitude and both packwall strength and width have been elucidated.Based upon observed conditions at the working face,realistic packwall parameters have been formulated,with numerical simulation results and field application results indicating that design parameters garnered from the developed formula successfully adapted to local geological movement and deformation.Accordingly,roadway deformation was shown to be within the permissible range,thus satisfying mine production requirements.The proposed method in the current study may give a design basis for pack design in the context of SBM under similar conditions.

Support technology for mine roadways in extreme weakly cemented strata and its application

For the engineering geology conditions of bad mine roadway roof and floor lithology in extremely weak cemented strata, the best section shape of the roadway is determined from the study of tunnel surrounding rock displacement, plastic zone and stress distribution in rectangular, circle arch and arch wall sections, respectively. Based on the mining depth and thickness of the coal seam, roadway support technology solutions with different buried depth and thickness of coal seam are proposed. Support schemes are amended and optimized in time through monitoring data of the deformation of roadway, roof separation, l-beam bracket, bolt and anchor cable force to ensure the long-term stability and security of the roadway surrounding rock and support structure. The monitoring results show that mine roadway support schemes for different buried depth and section can be adapted to the characteristics of ground pressure and deformation of the surrounding rock in different depth well, effectively control the roadway surrounding rock deformation and the floor heave and guarantee the safety of construction and basic stability of surrounding rock and support structure.

Feasibility analysis of gob-side entry retaining on a working face in a steep coal seam

Based on the decline in exploitation of coal resources, steep coal seam mining and mining face tensions continue to explore the feasibility analysis of steeply inclined faces in the gob. One of the key factors in utilizing the technology of gob-side entry retaining in steep coal seams is to safely and effectively prevent caving rock blocks from rushing into the gob-side entry by sliding downwards along levels. Using theoretical analysis and field methods, we numerically simulated the mining process on a fully-mechanized face in a steep coal seam. The stress and deformation process of roof strata has been analyzed, and the difficulty of utilizing the technology is considered and combined with practice in a steep working face in Lvshuidong mine. The feasibility of utilizing the technology of gob-side entry retaining in a steep coal seam has been recognised. We propose that roadways along the left lane offshoot body use a speciallymade reinforced steel dense net to build a dense rock face at the lower head. The results show that the lane offshoot branch creates effective roof control, safe conditions for roadway construction workers, and practical application of steeply inclined gob.

Stability analysis of backflling in subsiding area and optimization of the stoping sequence

In underground mining by sublevel caving method, the deformation and damage of the surface induced by subsidence are the major challenging issues. The dynamic and soft backflling body increases the safety risks in the subsiding area. In this paper, taking Zhangfushan iron mine as an example, the ore body and the general layout are focused on the safety of backflling of mined-out area. Then, we use the ANSYS software to construct a three-dimensional(3D) model for the mining area in the Zhangfushan iron mine. According to the simulation results of the initial mining stages, the ore body is stoped step by step as suggested in the design. The stability of the backflling is back analyzed based on the monitored displacements, considering the stress distribution to optimize the stoping sequence. The simulations show that a reasonable stoping sequence can minimize the concentration of high compressive stress and ensure the safety of stoping of the ore body.

Overlying strata movement of recovering standing pillars with solid backfilling by physical simulation

To analyze the overlying strata movement law of recovering room mining standing pillars with solid backfilling.Physical simulation experiments with sponge and wood as the backfilling simulation material were tested.The results show that:(i) The covering-rock mechanics of the overly strata comes from "two-arch structures + hinged girder + bend beam" to "backfilling material + hinged girder + bent beam" by increasing the fill ratio from 0%to 85%,the beginning of overlying strata movement appears later and the total duration of subsidence velocity increased from zero to the highest value increases.The trend of "single polarization" of the subsidence velocity curves becomes noticeable and the velocity variation trend becomes stable,(ii) The equiponderate aeolian sand was added to improve the anti-pressure ability of the loess,and the corresponding ground processing & transportation system was designed.

Movement and deformation laws of the overlying strata in paste filling stope

We combined the similar simulation with numerical simulation to analyze the movement and deforma- tion features of overlying strata caused by paste backfill mining, study the movement and deformation laws of the overlying strata in paste backfill mining, structural movement of the stope strata as well as the stope stress distribution laws. Furthermore, authors also explored the key factors to the movement and deformation of the overlying strata in paste backfill mining. The results indicate that a caving zone existed in the bending zone only in the overlying strata of the paste backfill mining. Compared with the roof caving mining, the degree of stress concentration and area of influence in the paste filling stope were apparently smaller. And the degree of destruction and area of the overlying strata decreased prominently. Also, there was no apparent strata behavior in the working face. Lastly, the filling ratio was the key to control the movement and deformation of the overlying strata. Combined with a specific engineering example, the author proved the reliability of the simulation results and provided a theoretical basis for the further extension of the paste backfill mining.

On the design and selection of vehicle coordination policies for underground mine production ramps

Traffic management in underground mines,especially on production ramps,is a difficult problem to optimize and control.Most operations use one of a few common policies;e.g.,the so-called ‘‘lock-out" and‘‘loaded-vehicle-priority" policies.The work presented in this paper uses discrete-event simulation to study the efficiency of multiple policies.Based on simulation results,an improvement to the common lock-out policy is proposed.This new policy utilizes the rules of the lock-out policy but integrates an option that allows a group of vehicles to be given temporary priority in a certain direction of travel.Quantitative results are provided and,based on these,a systematic technique for ramp design that aims to optimize the efficiency of underground mine ramp traffic flow is described.